Deconstructing memory with DREADDs

There are now quite a few papers using DREADDs in an inducible fashion to deconstruct the memory trace, block memories and augment memory.

I note that there are some intriguing differences with certain experiments and parallel studies done with optogenetics.  Among the various possibilities that have been suggested (see this review), it is important to remember that DREADD-based approaches utilize conserved and canonical modes of signaling to augment or diminish neuronal firing in an asynchronous fashion while optogenetics approaches essentially induce an artificial, synchronized firing pattern.

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